Chapter Eleven: Genwa's Decision

"Scatter!" the Flower Fairy in the flower sedan commanded coldly. Four women dressed in flowing gauze lightly tapped their toes, retreating backward as if graceful butterflies in flight. The dancing women waved their right hands, lifting the flower sedan and carrying it swiftly away. Even the monk and Yu Yang retreated to opposite sides at the same moment.

Lei Yan felt puzzled. These people retreated with astonishing speed. He even noticed the eerie smile curving Yu Yang’s lips as they fled. Lei Yan swore it was no smile of goodwill, but rather the smirk of someone savoring others’ misfortune. His vigilance surged sharply.

It was slow, yet it happened fast.

“Boom!”

A thunderous explosion rang out. A fiery red figure slammed into the ground like a cannonball. Dust exploded upward simultaneously, vast clouds of mud spraying in all directions. Only then did Lei Yan understand why the others had scattered so quickly. Yet Qing Ling stood directly behind him. If he dodged, the flying mud would strike her. With a flicker of intent, he instantly wove a barrier of true essence around them.

“Puff… puff… puff…”

Lei Yan’s face changed. The barrier shattered in the space of a single breath. A torrent of mud hammered against his face, body, even his legs. The first sensation was searing heat, followed by fierce pain, as though branded by a glowing iron. He even caught the faint scent of roasted meat before it vanished, replaced by the acrid stench of scorched flesh. He glanced downward. The mud clinging to him had turned jet black, with thin wisps of smoke rising from it. Only then did he truly grasp the meaning behind Yu Yang’s mocking smile.

“Hahaha…” A booming laugh erupted. Yu Yang clutched his belly and pointed at Lei Yan, guffawing.

Lei Yan brushed the black sludge from his body with a gentle wave of his hand. A cool breeze washed over him. Looking down, he saw countless holes punctured through his clothes. The spots where the mud had stuck were now scorched a deep purple-black. The most infuriating part was that the mud had precisely struck the side of his thigh root, leaving his most private area exposed. Fortunately, it had not struck his “little brother.” Otherwise, he could not guarantee whether he would ever be able to perform again. Lei Yan shifted his “little brother” with a mixture of shame and fury, shooting a glare at Yu Yang, who was laughing hysterically.

“Lei ge, you…” Before the words finished, Qing Ling witnessed Lei Yan’s undignified struggle with his “little brother.” She exerted her full feminine reserve, hastily covering her eyes with both hands and screaming, “Ah!” Deep in her heart, she cried out, “What is Lei ge doing? With so many people watching… He’s actually… Ah yo… I’m dying of embarrassment… Still, that thing…” Driven by curiosity, she parted her fingers slightly and peeked through the gap. But Lei Yan had already tucked his “little brother” away. She had to swallow her loud cry and clear her throat instead.

“Sorry, sorry.” A bold voice rang out again.

Lei Yan turned his furious gaze toward the source. Dust cleared, revealing a pit several meters wide on the ground. At its center stood a middle-aged man wreathed in flames, hands planted on his waist. The man in flames was so terrifying only two words could describe him: over seven feet tall, his wild hair whipping as if stirred by an invisible wind. Muscles bulged across every inch of his frame, each one like steel reinforcing stone. Especially the sharply curved elbows, they resembled a beast baring fangs. His face, illuminated by the flames, was equally ferocious, as monstrous as the muscles beneath.

Staring at the man amid the inferno, Lei Yan pondered one question: Was this creature even human? Was he wearing clothes? Why did his hair and garments remain untouched by the flames? Although only a few rags clung to his vital areas, that hardly explained the lack of burning. Even if those patches were specially treated, what about the hair? Could hair itself be specially made?

While he pondered, the flames around the muscular man faded. His disheveled hair settled. He looked at Lei Yan and roared with laughter. “Hahaha… Little brother, stop staring at me like that. You’ll make me proud.”

Lei Yan could scarcely believe such a person existed in the world who would regard others’ hatred and fury as a badge of honor. He fell utterly speechless. Against such arrogance, he would either remain silent or shatter their pride completely. Yet he knew he lacked the power to crush it. So he chose silence.

The muscular man cleared his throat. “I don’t like beating around the bush. If you have any complaints, bring them to me. I’ll accept every one.”

The Fairy snorted. Knowing he belonged to Liu Yan Sect, she remained silent. Now was not the time to turn hostile.

“Hua sister, don’t be angry. Don’t be angry. Getting upset with such a crude man is pointless. Pointless.” At some point, Yu Yang had once again thrust his head into the silk-fabric flower sedan.

“You’re no saint yourself.” While Hua Xianzi spoke, a crisp sound echoed. Yu Yang was flung out again.

“Hua sister, I’m not what you think…” The voice grew fainter.

“Amitabha Buddha.” The monk stepped forward. “Fellow Daoist Li Lie, we did not come to pursue your Liu Yan Sect. The treasure map is lost. Should we not join forces to recover it?”

“Yes, yes, the bald donkey speaks the truth.” I don’t know when, Yu Yang had returned and now nodded. Even Hua Xianzi’s side fell quiet, as if awaiting Li Lie’s reply. Among them all, only Lei Yan’s brows remained tightly knit. He truly had no idea how to slip away from these pursuers.

“Hahaha.” The muscular man named Li Lie laughed heartily. “I always opposed my sect’s use of despicable tactics. This time I’ll take charge. I declare beforehand: for the treasure, we each rely on our own strength. Let’s go. Now we meet the thief who stole our things.” With that, Li Lie strode forward, followed closely by Hua Xianzi and the rest.

Lei Yan saw his chance. He seized Qing Ling and fled in the opposite direction.

Li Lie’s brows furrowed. He sensed Lei Yan’s movement and asked Yu Yang, “Which sect do those two come from? I don’t recall them.”

“They escaped from the Poison Miasma Forest. Which sect they belong to, who knows. Still, my Hua sister kept them behind just in case.” As he spoke, Yu Yang’s body unconsciously shifted back toward Hua Xianzi’s flower sedan.

Without question, he was flung out once more.

“Little brother, if you dare to flee, I’ll snap your legs.” Li Lie roared. His steps never faltered. He did not even glance back. He had come out with word that among Long Ba’s followers there appeared to be a cultivator, young in age. His plan matched Hua Xianzi’s: keep them in reserve.

While running, Lei Yan refused to halt at Li Lie’s threat. Instead he quickened his pace and shouted, “Finding the treasure is your affair. Forgive me for not joining…” The word “accompany” still lingered on his tongue. Lei Yan sensed a red shadow streaking toward them at blinding speed. His expression shifted. He slapped Qing Ling’s back lightly, sending her flying, and himself dodged to the right.

“Crack!”

Lei Yan’s shoulder bones shattered instantly. Li Lie’s hand landed squarely on his shoulder. “Little brother, this is only the first time. If there’s another, it won’t be your shoulder. It’ll be your head.”

Lei Yan let out a muffled groan, his heart filled with terror. He had clearly dodged. Yet Li Lie’s palm still struck his shoulder. The sensation felt as though Lei Yan had deliberately placed his shoulder beneath Li Lie’s grip. It left him both furious and determined. He knew escape beneath Li Lie’s hand would require perfect timing. But more enemies meant greater danger. He spoke at once. “I can join you. But you must release my junior sister. Otherwise, you may as well kill me.”

“Lei ge, I don’t want to leave you. I want to stay with you.” Qing Ling rushed toward Lei Yan from nearby.

Li Lie glanced at Qing Ling, then at Lei Yan, who faced death with serene composure, and laughed. “Little brother, are you bargaining with me? However…” Li Lie flashed forward like teleportation and seized Qing Ling. “However, I hate negotiations most of all.” He flashed again, whisking Qing Ling to Hua Xianzi’s side.

“Want your junior sister? Follow me.” Li Lie dropped the words and turned away.

Killing intent flashed through Lei Yan’s eyes. Yet he knew, with his current strength, he could not kill Li Lie and the others. Helplessly, he followed.

Moments later, several figures entered the Poison Miasma Forest. The thin veil of poison miasma could not harm them. Li Lie walked at the front, as though their leader. The others trailed closely. Only the Yu Yang who had vanished into the sky was absent from the line.

“You’ve finally arrived. I waited for ages.” Yu Yang leaped down from a withered tree and hurried toward Hua Xianzi like a devoted suitor. “I discovered an interesting spot. Just ahead…”

“No interest.” Hua Xianzi’s words fell, and a sound accompanied it. Yu Yang was flung away again. Yet this time his figure hesitated in the air, unwilling. He cried out, “Why is it always me? Hua sister, where did the gentle you go? Oh heavens, return my gentle Hua sister to me…”

The group watched the sky like fools. Who knew the shameless fellow would imitate Li Lie’s tone and declare, “Don’t look at me like that. Otherwise, I will be proud.”

“Idiot.”

“Ignore.”

…

Unbothered by Yu Yang, the others followed Li Lie’s familiar path to Long Ba.

“Is this Long Ba’s territory?” Li Lie murmured. Suddenly his spiritual sense found the wooden box inside the northeast wooden hut. He smiled faintly. “It seems to be here. These people of Long Ba clearly don’t care about that wooden box.” He strode straight toward the northeast corner.

“Wooden box.” At Li Lie’s reminder, the others’ spiritual senses located the box in the northeast wooden hut. They hurried to follow. Only Lei Yan clutched Qing Ling, trying to slip away. Yet he was spotted. Cold killing intent enveloped him. Lei Yan had no choice but to follow with Qing Ling.

Beside the wooden hut in the northeast corner, the wooden box rested in the open. Gazing at the Sealing Infant Array within, Li Lie felt something was amiss. But he could not pinpoint the flaw. He pinched a hand seal. A red light shot from his palm into the array. “Open,” he growled.

The spirit stones inside the Sealing Infant Array flared like struck tinder. One after another they glowed. After a full rotation, the light blazed brilliantly. A voice heavy with resentment emerged. “I demand you all accompany me in death.”

After Lei Yan sealed the array, Yuan He had waited for someone to reopen it. He knew the next to do so would be the persecutors of the Yao Sect.

But the emerging Yuan He was stunned. He saw Lei Yan and Qing Ling standing nearby. He thought Lei Yan had betrayed him and was about to explode. Yet Lei Yan, who had prepared countermeasures, stepped forward and said, “Since you’ve found the treasure, release us.”

Li Lie felt uneasy, yet he could not explain why. He nodded at the infant in the box. “Get out. Get out.” Lei Yan pulled Qing Ling and fled. They vanished from sight in Long Ba.

“I keep thinking releasing that little brother was unwise.” Yu Yang stared at the retreating backs of Lei Yan and Qing Ling.

“Not bad.” Hua Xianzi agreed wholeheartedly. Yet she could not say why. It was merely a feeling.

“Damn it. After I released them, you start whispering? When I let them go earlier, why didn’t you make a sound?” Li Lie cursed.

“Amitabha Buddha.” The monk chanted. “Though I also feel releasing them was inappropriate, should we not now focus on the treasure map rather than those two already freed?”

Hearing the monk’s words, Yuan He’s gaze settled on Li Lie and the others. “You will never learn the map’s location from me.”

“Heh.” Li Lie chuckled. “No need to trouble yourself. I have my own ways.” He flicked his right index finger. A scarlet flame shot into the array and struck Yuan He. The searing pain made Yuan He bare his teeth, yet he endured without a sound.

“Hmm. Some backbone.” Watching Yuan He grit through the agony, Li Lie prepared to flick more flames. Hua Xianzi interrupted him and said slowly, “Allow me.”

As she spoke, her graceful figure drifted from the flower sedan like willow floss. Her feet seemed loath to touch mortal dust and hovered in midair. A thin gauze draped her body, accentuating her devilish curves. The hazy allure was already hooking Yu Yang’s gaze. Even Li Lie frowned.

“Amitabha Buddha.” The monk turned away, back to Hua Xianzi.

“Isn’t this beautiful?” Hua Xianzi danced in the air, voice soft and clear.

“Beautiful. Too beautiful.” Yuan He had not yet spoken. Beside him, Yu Yang drooled without thought. “So beautiful…”

Li Lie could not endure it. The dance blended with her cultivation, lively and enchanting, igniting lust. The voice laced with true essence added further torment. If he watched longer, he did not know what he might do.

He snorted coldly. “What are you showing off for? With your little charm technique to seduce me?”

Hua Xianzi said nothing. Her dancing hands kept reaching out. She brushed gently across Yuan He’s face and asked again, “Isn’t this beautiful?”

“Beautiful. What’s beautiful?” Yuan He trembled. He had to admit the Flower Fairy’s body was seductive. Especially the graceful dance paired with the hazy temptation formed an unbeatable beauty. The occasional faint fragrance and the sensations on her skin made him unable to pull away. He knew if he continued, he would fall completely. He suddenly closed his eyes and refused to look again.

Hua Xianzi smiled gently. She understood these reactions perfectly. Knowing Yuan He was nearly defeated, she accelerated. The brushing motions grew more frequent. This time Yuan He could not bear it. His eyes could close, but his senses could not. His half-closed eyes slowly opened against his will. His dazed gaze fixed tightly on Hua Xianzi.

“Isn’t this beautiful?” Hua Xianzi asked again.

He answered dazedly.

“Tell me where the treasure map is, all right?” Seeing that he had fallen into her trap, Yuan He asked.

“Where the treasure map is… in…” For a long time, Yuan He could not speak. Perhaps because the map stirred his hatred, a surge of rage rose. Yuan He suddenly woke. Terror filled his heart. If this continued, he would reveal the map’s location. His mind raced. Yet in the end he could not find a way to counter Hua Xianzi. Suddenly he seemed to realize something. He muttered, “I’ve done my best…” His body’s light suddenly flared.

Faint light surrounded Yuan He’s nascent soul. Hua Xianzi saw the abnormality at once. This was a self-detonation of the nascent soul. She cried, “No! He’s going to explode his nascent soul!” The words lingered on her tongue. Her figure had already left Long Ba’s territory.

“Damn it.” Li Lie cursed. He seized the stunned Yu Yang and flew out of Long Ba.

“Amitabha Buddha.” The monk’s speed matched his own. He dropped the two little monks and vanished from Long Ba like teleportation.

Say it slowly, then it’s fast.

In just a few breaths, the light on the surface of the nascent soul reached its peak, as dazzling as the sun.

“Boom!”

The immense force hurled the fleeing figures out of Long Ba. The two little monks and the four women were buried inside.

(PS: Sorry, this chapter came a bit late.)